2024 Summer Camp Reading Challenge

2024 Summer Camp

It's been a long month for various personal reasons which I won't go into, but it's been somewhat of a relief to have this challenge happening as well. It's given my brain a creative space to sneak off into when the world around it got too much. I'm proud of myself for completing all 42, but I'm not proud of all of the articles and will probably go back and edit quite a few.

Summer Camp Reading Challenge

For the Reading Challenge, I'm going to pick 5 of the 42 prompts and then select two of the articles for each. Prompts were chosen by asking my brother to randomly choose numbers between 1 and 42.

Prompt 41: Food often eaten by travellers

Pemmican
by Demongrey

Likes

I love the detail of the history and culture of this item, right down to where the name came from. It makes it feel more real, like something with a past and hundreds of different recipes.

Learnings

Think more about the history of items.

Mhahar'ane - Traveler’s Date Cake
by Tyrdal

Likes

This sounds so delicious! That description at the beginning pulls me right into the setting. The fact there is a recipe makes me feel as though I could create it myself and I love the bit about it being a shared gift.

Learnings

Describe with all the senses

Bonfire Broth
by Jontaro

Likes

"A memento in liquid form." I felt this in my soul. I also like the story behind it, the origin. It feels heartening, and the fact that it provides in-game benefits makes it more than just flavour, so to speak.

Learnings

Consider the cultural significance of items and the impact of them.

Prompt 5: A document that changed the course of history

Proclamation of the Crown
by Hanhula

Likes

The writing style and the layout of this article are great and make it very easy to read. I also loved the use of quotes and the mystery around it. I finished reading with even more questions and I love that!

Learnings

I don't need to explain everything. Reconsider how I use quotes.

Berlin Conference
by TynenTM

Likes

I really liked the use of context in TynenTM's articles, particularly here because the background helps to explain the impact of the document is based on what it prevented from happening, rather than what it started. TynenTM's articles are always really clear and filled with information without being overwhelming.

Learnings

Nothing happens in a vacuum. Change comes from stopping things as well as starting them.

Zoological Collections Openings License
by Mochimanoban

Likes

I love Mochi's sense of humour and the opening to this article is no exception. I like that while the document is referenced the focus is on the impact it has and how it's a "pain in the rear".

Learnings

"Why this license exists... I couldn't tell you" The person writing the article doesn't have to know the reasons behind it.

Prompt 36: An animal or plant that feeds on decay

Ebonysand Flower
by Oaster2000

Likes

I love that the flower firstly sounds beautiful and secondly has protective properties. I also like the consequences of these protective properties, people wanting to grow the flowers etc. Excellent world-building.

Learnings

Simplify my extracts, to make them more concise.

Wolf Fur
by Serukis

Likes

What an evocative name for a fungus! I love the descriptions of it, which cover not only what it looks like, but also how it tastes down to the mouthfeel. A lot of information that was really excellently and concisely communicated.

Learnings

Consider all of the senses when writing descriptions, particularly when describing something edible!

Bonemoth
by Spooktacular

Likes

The design is simple and beautiful. Pictures like this make me wish I had any artistic talent! And I love the idioms in the quotes, even if my eyes struggled a little with the contrast.

Learnings

I need to consider how species families link together, bonemoths being a species of deathmoth

Prompt 26: Slang or a language associated with a religion or belief

Gobbledygook
by Drunkenpanda951

Likes

I love the conversational tone of this article. The meanings of the words are really smart and I like that it's specifically related to goblin artificers. I also love that the belief system is not a religious one.

Learnings

Make a note of the word gobbledygook, I want to use it more in conversation.

Tongue-Wise
by Dazzlinkat

Likes

This is such a good reminder that language articles don't need to be about the lettering and vocabulary of a language. I love these proverbs and will be finding ways to drop them into conversation.

Learnings

Every culture has proverbs and sayings specific to them.

Flower Messages
by Frod0_baggins

Likes

I love a non-verbal language, but I hadn't thought about the fact that they could have dialects! This is genius and I love everything about it.

Learnings

Think about how I can add a non-verbal language or two.

Prompt 19: A tradition that brings comfort

Meditation
by Callyxtus

Likes

I like that this is a tradition which helps with relaxation and the restoration of magic. I think traditions often serve multiple purposes, so I like that detail. I also like how you can see the tradition being passed from one culture to another.

Learnings

Consider how things pass between cultures and peoples.

Flowering Flame
by Catoblepon

Likes

I like that this tradition gives comfort to the family and peace to the dead. This tradition is so beautiful and heartfelt. It feels as though every detail is there.

Learnings

I need to consider the emotion behind a tradition.

Downhill Soup Night
by Tillerz

Likes

This is just a lovely article about a lovely tradition. I want to go here! I also like the depth of it being something that started for nutrition and developed to be for the community spirit.

Learnings

I need to consider how I use multiple quotes

World Building Goals

All of my world-building goals are listed in my New Years Resolutions article. I'm breaking my goals up by quarters because it allows me to be a bit more flexible about what I'm doing.
I have targets around the number of articles I'm aiming to write, and I also want to spend some time reviewing the articles I wrote for Summer Camp!

I also have a goal around writing fiction, and am actually attending a writer's retreat in September, which I'm very excited about. But that's not all...
The big thing I'm doing next is Mystember. I've never run an unofficial challenge before, so I'm really looking forward to it!

My Summer Camp Entries

In P'Ache

Blentara Fruit

City of Lights

Cloudskimmer

Crystallinal Wash

Decomposer

Feast For The Bird

Hollow Tree

Imitator's Insurrection

Light Bathing

Lumistratus

Macran Rebels

Peacekeeper Ope V'Kly

Pipe Addiction

Primian Compound

Primian Ro G'Ga

Seeing Eyes

Societal Betterment Act

Stormburst

Teras

Treated Grafitium

Tyro Trouble

In The Wilds

Arms of The Protector
Campsite In The Lost Forest At The Southern Foot Of The Candid Mountains
Firearms
Harald's Daughters
Men of Authority
Protector's Blessing
Rune Loop
Rune Moth
Stoneham Town
The Old Church, Stoneham Town
Beginning of the Battle
First Blade
The Forces
The Protector's Cleric
Runes
Temptation
Weekly Service
Word of The Protector
End of the Battle
Fyllbrød
Known World